Sunday, 30 July 2017

The Nato Strap / G10 Military Nylon Strap

(…) “Interestingly enough, the term “NATO strap” came into
use as a shortened version of NATO Stocking Number (NSN), and otherwise has
very little to do with the strap carrying its namesake. The more appropriate
name for the “NATO” strap is actually the “G10” — which is how we’ll refer to
it from here. In 1973, “Strap, Wrist Watch” made its debut in the British
Ministry of Defence Standard (DefStan) 66-15. For soldiers to get their hands
on one, they had to fill out a form known as the G1098, or G10 for short. Subsequently,
they could retrieve the strap at their unit’s supply store of the same name.

Though DefStan’s name for the strap was decidedly
nondescript, its specifications were distinct and specific. MoD-issued G10
straps were nylon, only made in “Admiralty Grey” with a width of 20mm, and had
chrome-plated brass buckle and keepers. Another key trait was a second, shorter
piece of nylon strap attached to the buckle. Since the strap was to be used by
the military, it needed to be functional and fail-safe. The extra nylon had a
keeper at its end through which the main part of the strap passed through after
it had been looped behind the watch. This created a pocket, limiting the
distance the case could move. As long as the strap was passed through properly
and snugly on the wrist, the case would stay exactly where it was needed. The
bonus feature of a strap that passes behind the watch is there so that in the
event that a spring bar breaks or pops out, the case will still be secured by
the other spring bar.

Since 1973, the G10 strap has seen only slight modification.
The current version has been downsized to 18mm (this is due to the 18mm lugs
found on the Cabot Watch Company’s military issue watch) and now has stainless
steel hardware. In 1978, a company known as Phoenix took over production of
MoD-spec G10 straps; those would be the “real deal” if one were looking for
them today.

Not long after the simple “Admiralty Grey” G10 was issued,
British military regiments began wearing straps honoring their respective
regimental colors with stripes of all colors and combinations. One strap’s
stripe pattern has become more famous than all the rest, but to call it a G10
or a NATO strap is actually a misnomer. When Sean Connery’s Bond famously
wrist-checked his “Big Crown” reference 6538 Submariner in Goldfinger, he
revealed an interestingly striped nylon strap. Aside from being too narrow, the
strap was notable because of its navy blue color with red and green stripes.
Many watch enthusiasts have labeled this strap as the “Bond NATO.” Despite the
strap’s similarities to a G10, Goldfinger began filming in 1964, nine years
before the first MoD G10 strap was issued. Timeline issues aside, it’s clear
that the strap Connery wore had a very simple one-piece construction, not unlike
that of a waist belt, and distinct from a true NATO.

Despite Bond’s trendsetting strap choice, it would be many
years before the nylon strap industry would take hold. Like many other trends
born from utilitarian military items (M65 Jackets, camouflage, etc.), early G10
strap adopters were attracted to the item’s usefulness and “tacti-cool” street
cred. The usefulness is still intact, but now that there are literally hundreds
of straps of different colors, stripes and materials sold by vendors around the
world, the street cred has become more “faux” than ever. This shouldn’t stop
you from wearing one, however. The straps are inexpensive, extremely durable,
and can be switched out to fit whatever outfit or mood you’re in. In fact, most
watch nerds probably have more G10s than they do watches.

G10s have been heavily trending upwards over the last
several years or so. While it may be a fad that eventually fades, they don’t
appear to be going away in the short term. Watchmakers like Tudor, Blancpain,
Hamilton and Bremont have been either throwing in a G10 as an accessory to a
watch purchase, or flat out offering one as the main strap option. The horology
purist may scoff at such a thing, but watchmakers would be foolish not to ride
the G10 wave; and while they come in varying degrees of quality, a good one is
a trustworthy piece of equipment with a rich history.”

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